Geelong music lovers rejoice! The spirit of live music is about to rise with the transformation of a storied 1800s church on Ryrie Street into an intimate live music venue poised to reshape the region’s independent music scene.
Church
Where: 71 Ryrie Street Geelong
When: Opening August 2026
Church Calendar
Fri 14 Aug
Teen Jesus & The Jean Teasers
The Shore
Jasmin Adria
Sat 15 Aug
BLESS THIS MESS
A celebration of local love.
Free event!
Operation Karma.
Cool Dad.
Motel Netpune
Maddie Jackway
Will Gibb.
Fri 21 Aug
Tyne-James Organ
JOELY
Sat 22 Aug
Maddeline Cope (EP Launch)
Wild Honey
Fri 28 Aug
The Gnomes
Sergent Baker
The Grimwoods
Sat 29 Aug
Darcie Haven
Maz Green
Lana Karlay
Sun 30 Aug
Imaginary Millions
A community jam where anything can happen. All welcome.
Fri 4 Sept
Nathan Seeckts & The House Band
Freya Josphine Hollick
Sat 5 Sept
Tjaka
Tonite
Sat 3 Oct
Immy Owusu
Wrong Way Up
Sat 10 Oct
Lotte Gallagher
Wed 14 Oct
Ruth Moody
Gabby Steel
Keep connected to your live music scene here.
Opening its doors this August, the new venue — aptly named Church — has been meticulously restored and reimagined by Geelong Arts Centre as a dedicated home for independent artists, live performance and experimental collaboration. With a capacity of up to 150 standing or 100 seated, the space promises an up-close, immersive experience where audiences can feel every note, breath and beat.
Set within a beautifully restored heritage building that has lived many lives — from place of worship to restaurant, and more recently a rehearsal space frequented by the likes of Guy Pearce, Rachel Griffiths and early iterations of Back to Back Theatre — Church now steps into a new era. One defined not by reinvention alone, but by return: a space once again given back to the community it has long quietly served.
Inside, significant restoration works have brought the venue to full professional standard, including acoustic treatment, structural upgrades and a complete internal fit-out, while preserving the building’s historic character. The result is a space that feels both grounded in its past and finely tuned for contemporary performance.
Geelong Arts Centre CEO and Creative Director Rhys Holden said the venue responds directly to a long-standing need within the region’s cultural landscape.
“Geelong’s independent music and arts scene is bursting with talent, and Church gives that talent somewhere to truly call home,” he said. “This is something we have wanted to create for a long time — a genuinely accessible, artist-led space where independent performers can take risks, build audiences, and grow their practice.”
True to that ethos, Church will operate on an artist-first model, with no upfront hire costs for independent performers. Instead, the Geelong Arts Centre will provide operational, marketing and ticketing support, allowing artists to focus entirely on their craft.
For emerging Geelong artist Madeleine Cope, the significance of the venue is deeply personal.
“Having a space like Church in Geelong is huge for local artists,” she said. “It gives us the freedom to create events that genuinely reflect who we are… launching my EP here feels incredibly special.”
The inaugural program reflects the diversity and ambition of the region’s music community, curated by Geelong Arts Centre Senior Producer – Music, Andrew Orvis. Across August and September, audiences can expect a genre-spanning lineup that moves from raw singer-songwriter storytelling to high-energy experimental performance.
The opening weekend sets the tone in bold fashion, with Canberra rock outfit Teen Jesus and the Jean Teasers bringing their electrifying live show to Church on Friday 14 August. They will be joined by Surf Coast singer-songwriter Jasmin Adria and surf-rock trio The Shore. The following day, the precinct opens its doors to the community with Bless This Mess, a free afternoon of performances by six local acts. The bill includes Operation Karma, Cool Dad, Motel Netpune, Maddie Jackway, and Will Gibb.
The season continues with a carefully curated slate featuring Darcie Haven, Tyne James Organ, Lotte Gallagher, Tjaka, Immy Owusu, Nathan Seeckts and Madeleine Cope, each bringing distinct voices and sounds that reflect the depth of talent across Geelong and the Surf Coast.
Beyond the music, Church carries a broader ambition: to nurture an ecosystem where independent artists can take creative risks without financial barriers, supported by a structure designed to sustain and amplify local work. Backed by philanthropic supporters and the Victorian Government through Creative Victoria, the project has already raised $3 million towards its $3.3 million target.
As Holden puts it, the venue is more than a performance space. It is a response, a commitment, and a gathering point for a creative community ready to be heard.
Church opens this August at 71 Ryrie Street, Geelong — and with it, a new chapter begins for live music in the region.
